Ryan Manseau, the senior director of Pride Fest, told WBZ-TV he was handing out fliers at the Pheasant Lane Mall recently to promote his event and noticed a man who appeared to be a Chick-Fil-A manager holding one.

Manseau said he approached the man, bracing for a verbal confrontation. He turned out to be the franchise operator, Anthony Piccola, who agreed to help sponsor the event and to serve Chick-Fil-A sandwiches there.

“Chick-fil-A at Pheasant Lane Mall has gay employees and serves gay customers with honor, dignity and respect,” a NH Pride Fest statement quoted Piccola as saying. “We also don’t discriminate in giving back to the Nashua community, donating to a wide variety of causes. I would challenge people to come have a conversation with me before they make assumptions or boycott my restaurant.”

Piccola said in a statement to WBZ-TV that he is dedicated to supporting the local community and gives to a wide variety of causes in area.

“The Chick-fil-A culture and service tradition in our restaurants is to treat every person with honor, dignity and respect –regardless of their belief, race, creed, sexual orientation or gender,” Piccola’s statement read.

The New Hampshire Pride Fest is scheduled from noon to 5 p.m on Saturday, August 11 at Veterans Memorial Park in Manchester.